Folding bed



N0. 624,l40. Patented May 2, I899. S. A. WESTER.

FOLDING BED.

(Application filed June 25, 1898,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES SWAN AUGUST WESTER, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,140, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed June 25, 1898.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SWAN AUGUST WEsTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding beds of that type in which the head and foot sections fold up and are supported on a stationary central base to give the bed the appearance of a chiffonnier, wardrobe, or similar piece of furniture when not in position for use as a bed.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a folding bed of this character which shall be attractive in appearance and occupy but little room when folded in an upright position and which can be easily and quickly lowered in position for use.

Another object is to construct and combine the parts of the bedin such manner that the movable sections will operate easily and evenly without getting loose and disarranged, being connected so that they will move simultaneously in opening and closing; and a further object is to provide simple and effective devices for securing the sections in their open or closed positions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding bed as it appears in closed or folded position. Fig. 2 is a front view of the folded bed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bed in open position. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the stationary central supporting-section which forms the base for the bed, and it is of box-like form, comprising the sides a and ends a, made of light but strong metal open-work preferably. The upper edge of the sides and ends of the base are turned over, as at D, to receive a strengthening-rod d, which extends entirely around the edge of the base and maintains it in its proper shape. The head-section B and foot-section O are pivotally mounted on the base, these sections being provided at each side with one member I) of a strap-hinge the Serial No. 684,460. (No model.)

eye of which receives the rod d, which forms the pivot-bolt for the sections. tions are arranged on the base, so that their ends will engage each other, and when folded in an upright position they fit snugly within the base, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each section B O is composed of the skeleton sides 0, and the bedding, &c., may be hidden from view and protected by means of curtains or plates 0 of some light material. The head-section B is provided with a headboard E, having downturned edges 6, which fit over the foot-section and provide a top for the bed when folded, excluding dust and presenting an attractive appearance, besides providing a table or stand to receive dresser articles or the like.

The foot-section is provided with a footboard 6', which fits beneath the forwardlyprojecting headboard when the sections are folded. A strengthening-rib F is located at the middle of the sections, and as the frame of the bottom of the sections is of skeleton form I employ curtainsfor plates to protect the bedding, &c., these curtains being of the ordinary spring variety or hanging curtains, as shown in Fig. 2.

The inner ends of the sides of the sections are cut away on a curve and provided with interlocking segmental racks G, the arrangement being such that the lower portions of these racks will remain in constant contact when the sections are lowered to open the bed, Fig. 3, and when the sections are folded the edges of the sides engage, Fig. 1, being held in this position by the weight of the sections and by the headboard. In order to guide the sections in their movement, I provide the triangular guide-plate H at each side of the bed, which plates have slots h to receive the pins h on the sections. The guideplates are held closely against the sides by the uprights I on the sections, so that they will not interfere with the bedding, &c., during the movement of the sections. The guideplates, in conjunction with the segments, maintain the sections in their proper relative position and also form a side protection for the bedding, due. ,when the sections are folded, Fig. 1, as they are carried down by the sections and fill the space left between the lower These seoends thereof caused by the curvature of the segments, and when the bed is open and the sections are in a horizontal position they are held up by the sections and form a continuation of the sides thereof, Fig. 3.

Afasteniug device J is provided on the footsect-ion,which is adapted to engage the headboard to lock the parts together when the bed is folded. Another fastening device K, of some suitable form, is arranged, preferably, on the head-section, which engages the base when the bed is open and prevents the sections from folding up accidentally. It is obvious that many dillerent kinds of fastening devices may be employed to accomplish this purpose, and I do not limit myself to any particular kind.

The foot-section is provided with swinging feet L, and a folding foot-piece M is hinged to the headboard or head-section to support that end of the bed when open and form an ornamental back at the top of the bed when folded, being provided with a mirror, if desired, so that the folded bed will present the appearance of a chiffonnier. The mattress may be variously constructed, and the bedding is held in place when the bed is foldedby the holding devices N at the foot and head, which fold down upon the bedding and prevent it from sliding out of place when the bed is folded.

A folding bed constructed as herein described can be easily and quickly folded or opened, is compact in construction and arrangement, and can be conveniently located in a room and ornamented to present an exceedingly attractive appearance. I prefer to make the bed of metal open-work and protect the bedding by curtains; but many changes may be made in the form and construction of parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and these I reserve the right to make. It will be observed that the adjacent ends of the sections fold down into the base when the bed is closed, bringing the head and foot sections into a vertical position close together and of a convenient height. The bottom of each section is composed of the skeleton frame P, having the brace or strengthening rib F, and a curtain pole or roller is conveniently supported thereon to carry a curtain or curtains, which will protect the bedding. Instead of the curtains I may use mirrors or ornamental metal or wood open-work. The guide-plates II form the connection between the ends of the sides of the sections and a continuation thereof when the bed is folded or open, being carried down into the base when the bed is folded or closed, as shown in Fig. 1, and held up in position alongside the sides of the sections when the bed is open to form a continuation of the sides between the curved ends thereof. The holding devices I are pivotally mounted on the footboard and at the sides of the head-section, and they may be swung into position to hold the bedding in place or elevated when the bed is in use, at which time they give to the bed an attractive and ornamental appearance,

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting-section, of head and foot sections independently and pivotally mounted thereon and provided with interlocking segmental racks, and guide-plates loosely and movably secured to the sides of the sections, said guide-plates being substantially triangular in shape to protect the bedding at the interlocking ends of the sections when the bed is open or closed, substantially as described.

2. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting-section, of head and foot sections pivotally mounted thereon and provided with interlocking segmental racks, triangular-shaped slotted guide-plates carried by the sections to form a continuation of the sides of the sections when the bed is open or closed, and pins carried by the sides of the sections and operating in the slots of said guide-plates to maintain the same in their proper relative position, substantially as described.

33. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting-section, of head and foot sections pivotally mounted thereon and provided with interlocking segmental racks at the adjacent ends of their sides, and triangular-shaped guide-plates connected loosely with the sides of the sections and form ing a continuation thereof when the bed is open or closed, substantially as described.

4. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting-section forming a base, of head and foot sections pivotally mounted on the base and arranged to have their lower ends fold down into the base when the bed is closed, interlocking segmental racks on the adjacent ends of the sides of the sections, triangular-shaped slotted guide-plates loosely connected to said sections to maintain the same in proper relative position and form a continuation of the sides thereof, and pins on the sections arranged to operate in the slots of said guide-plates to connect the parts together, substantially'as described.

5. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting-section forming a base, a rod around the upper edge of the base to strengthen the same and form a pivotbolt, and head and foot sections pivotally connected to said rod, substantially as described.

6. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary central supporting seetion forming a base, a rod around the upper edge of the base to strengthen the same and form a pivotbolt, head and foot sections pivotally connected to said rod, interlocking segmental racks on. the adjacent ends of the sections, and triangular gnide-plates loosely connected to the sections and protecting the bedding at the ends of the sides of the sections, substantially uprights on the sections to hold the guideas described. plates in place against the sides of the sec- I0 7. In a folding bed, the combination with a tions, substantially as described.

stationary central supportin section form'in a base, of head and foot s ections pivotally SWAN AUGUST TESTER mounted on the base and provided with seg- WVitnesses: mental racks on their adjacent ends, guide- WM. 0. BELT, plates connected loosely tothe sections, and J. O. BUCK. 

